Predator: Badlands Teaser Expands Alien and Predator Universe

Not only is it not often that live-action Predator films come around, but it is also rare that one features the titular monster as the hero. But today, 20th Century Studios has unveiled the first trailer for Predator: Badlands, promising a decidedly different approach to the classic sci-fi creature.

Predator: Badlands centers on Dek, a young Predator who has been exiled from his people. In a major departure for the series, this upcoming movie will have the monster of Alien vs. Predator fame in the role of protagonist, as it shows him allying with one of his adversaries. In his battle to prove himself, Dek (portrayed by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) will be joined by Weyland-Yutani android Thia (played by Elle Fanning). Together, they will have to face off against “the ultimate enemy” in the form of “something that can’t be killed.”

The first glimpses of that enemy, at least as seen in the trailer, include a monster unlike anything else in the Predator or Alien franchise so far. A massive creature with exposed veins and a jagged, rocky outer shell, it will be up to Dek, Thia, and the Predator mercenary Tracker to outwit and outrun it.

Predator: Badlands builds on the existing shared universe between Predator and Alien films, but will function on its own. However, early indications are that it will do some worldbuilding of its own. Reports have it that at least a portion of the film will be set on the Predator home world, an aspect of the franchise about which very little has been shown or revealed so far. In this trailer, however, we get a peek at alien environments, as well as teeming Predator cities and several Predators in intense standoffs and all-out combat with one another.

Director and co-writer Dan Trachtenberg, who came into prominence for 2022’s Prey, seems set to expand on the world of the Predator further. While Prey pared the story down to a stripped-back survivalist slugfest in a limited 18th-century American Great Plains setting, Badlands promises to explore the species’ traditions, language, and politics. If the trailer is to be taken at face value, the film will provide some depth to the Yautja race’s culture and customs, which have been peripheral to the series until now, alongside some of the franchise’s trademark techno-fetishization of guns and violence.

Leading man Elle Fanning’s android character, Thia, also stands out. Truncated glimpses of her in the trailer show her moving in deliberately inhuman ways, speaking with a lulling flatness and metal edges revealed when she contorts to assume odd angles, or her eyes flash with curiosity or emotion. It will be interesting to see how she factors into the story, as this is the first time a Predator movie has so closely centered a human-built android into its core. For fans of the Alien series, the Weyland-Yutani tech firm’s connection will be another treat of Easter eggs and in-world connections.

Veteran Crew Returning for New Work

Director Dan Trachtenberg’s return is one of the film’s biggest draws. Not only did Prey earn praise and find a sizable audience on Hulu, but its success and word-of-mouth have grown since its release. Bringing him back for a sequel speaks to the studio’s faith in his work and his ability to deliver fresh and yet respectful takes on long-running sci-fi lore.

And it is not Trachtenberg’s only Predator project in the works either. The director has also been working on a show called Predator: Killer of Killers, which is an animated anthology set to drop on Hulu — the same streaming service that hosted Prey — on June 6. That series will feature several different Predator hunts from different eras and worlds.

The First Teaser Trailer

As first trailers are wont to do, the first installment in the trailer series for Predator: Badlands does not give too much away of the major story points. However, it is rich in material to consider. Viewers get tantalizing looks at Predators in ceremonial armor and skin-tight protective gear in conflict with one another, Dek navigating in the wilderness on guard, Thia in action with advanced technology, and the shadowy outlines of the “unkillable” creature. Viewers also get a sense of how large-scale and expansive the alien settings are.

As we have established by now, though, what this teaser confirms as well is that Predator: Badlands is not going to be a retread of previous entries in the franchise. A shift in perspective from humans as prey to Predator as one of its shakes up the comfortable genre formula and allows for the introduction of new characters and story elements. Whether Dek has to redeem himself in the eyes of his community or his in-laws, or otherwise earn a place among his people, promises the possibility of rooting for the villains from previous films.

Release Date

The film will have its release in theaters on November 7, making it one of the year’s late science fiction action releases. In the meantime, expect more trailers to roll out, which may hint at further plot elements or flesh out larger set-pieces, as well as possibly showing more of the “unkillable” creature.

No matter which side of the Predator-creature conflict you side with, the hunt in November is looking to be one worth seeing.